FOCA - Radical threat to human life

As some of you may or may not know, I work for the Archdiocese of St Paul/Minneapolis in the Office of Marriage, Family and Life. Our office is spear-heading the national campaign launched by the USCCB (United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) to have every voting Catholic in the United States sign a postcard which will be sent to the local representative and senators. This will hopefully get the attention of our law makers that FOCA is a radical threat to human life and should be stopped.

Here is a link to the campaign website. If you haven't heard about it at your local parish (they are doing this all over the US) talk to your parish priest or local pro-life group to get some information!

NCHLA.org

Our office also put together a quick brochure to send out before the campaign started to condense the information in brief. I could not get the PDF up here, but here is what it says:

Now More Than Ever We are facing the most serious threat to pro-life policies ever—the “Freedom of Choice Act”, or FOCA. This bill would create a right to abortion the government could not limit and bring about national abortion policy far worse than the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote. Citizens would lose the freedom they now have to enact even the modest regulation on the abortion industry.

***FOCA is without a doubt the most radical abortion legislation ever considered in the United States***

FOCA eliminates regulations that protect women from unsafe abortion clinics

FOCA forces tax payers to fund abortions

FOCA requires all states to allow “partial birth” and other late-term abortions

FOCA subjects women to abortions by non-physicians

FOCA violates the conscience rights of nurses, doctors, and hospitals

FOCA strips parents of their right to be involved in their minor daughters’ abortion decision

Prayer to End Abortion
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Daily Eucharistic Emails

I am on a Daily Eucharist Email list - A beautiful women here in the cities sends daily Saint quotes, book quotes, inspirational quotes with a picture as well - etc. Also, once a month she offers adoration for the intentions of everyone who receives the emails. It is beautiful. Today, I particularly enjoyed the quote and picture.

(Let me know if you want to be on the list!)

"At that hour of the Sacrifice, at the words of the Priest, the heavens are opened, and in that mystery of Jesus Christ, the choirs of Angels are present, and things below are joined to things on high, earthly things to heavenly, and the service is both a visible and an invisible event."

~St. Gregory the Great († 604)

December: A review in pictures

December was full .... here is a glimpse in pictures.

Home in Tacoma during the freaky snow storm weather - - - we made the most of it with a friendly snow man. We never make them in Minnesota because it is just TOO TOO cold when the snow comes. Josh and Mike both came into town in early December. Josh had training for his new job, and Mike missed Minnesota so much he just had to come back. The Cathedral is in the background.

Minnesota sunset. Even thought it is freezing, the sun comes up every morning and it is so pretty!

Trying on one of the veil options for the wedding. Cathy D (My mom's friend from high school) is helping me put it on (the veil she wore at her wedding), and my mom is just watching.

My mom putting together some bows from my 1st shower. Her grade school and high school girlfriends threw me my 1st wedding shower (Bath and kitchen themed). It was great!

Joe and I trying to recreate a pose similar to one my grandma and grandpa had, Christmas of 1965 in front of a tree. I should get the original up on here. They are pretty similar .... we framed it and gave it to her for Christmas - side by side with the original. She just loved it.

Christmas and the New Year

I was home for 2 weeks, by home I mean Tacoma, Washington. It was so great to be with my family and Joe's family for the holiday. We love being home and the trip back to MN is always a little hard - leaving our family and the ones we love to come back to MN .... where of course we love our life as well. There is just something about being home that makes you want to stay.

Wedding plans are going well. We are all ready to go, now we just have to wait until July 18th!
Thanks to the help of my dear friend Kate - we actually addressed all the invitations and sent "save the dates" to the out of town guests. 5 of my ladies already have their dresses, the cake is settled on and I think the flowers are too. As far as wedding cakes go - I am not a fan. I haven't ever had one I LOVED, and I just don't like cake in general. I would much rather have ICE CREAM - but that was not approved by the wedding committee - - - my mom ;-) --

The snow in the northwest over Christmas made for a few changes in plans, but it was nice to rest and slow down for a change. When it snows in MN, nothing slows down!

Now we are back in Minnesota, have the weekend to regroup and adjust to life in the Midwest until we head back to work on Monday.

Pictures of break to come soon!

Another website

Wedding website

I am trying out a free wedding website for in-town and out-of-town guests.

So far it is kind of fun, but I have enough trouble keeping the blog updated ... at least I don't have to keep updating this one, once the information is on here, that's it!

God bless you and your Advent season. May the Lord make you truly apprecite this time while you wait in JOYFUL HOPE!

Engagement

Joe and I went over to a good friend's house, had a great lunch with the family, and then had a little photo shoot. We wanted to get some good pictures for ... perhaps some "Save the Date" cards, Christmas pictures, or some fun decoration ideas at the reception. We had a fun time and got some great shots . . . after I decided to start smiling. Joe however, has the same wonderful smile in every picture (well, almost every picture).

Last night it also decided to snow! Which made it cold, but also gave us a nice background. Up until now, the snow has only been around for a day or so, but I think this time it will stick .... maybe we will see the ground in March?!?

Dave told us to be "dramatic" .....

Joe was standing a few feet away from me, down a hill. We are almost the same height now.

When I was between the ages of 0-5 years, I refused to smile in pictures - I was just trying to recreate that

Date Night

Awhile ago, Joe and I decided to set aside one week night as Date Night. We picked Wednesday's. Lately though, Wednesday's have been full of other obligations (this Wednesday my boss at the Archdiocese is having our office over for dinner) so Joe and I have been forced to reschedule - which is just fine.

Date night has been such a blessing. It gives us a set time to spend together. We sometimes have more of a "business" type meeting, now discussing the details of the wedding or planning something, but mostly it is just time set aside to enjoy one another.

Tonight Joe planned Date Night - It was a great one!

We played poker! He brought the chips, and cards, and sun glasses and hat - even big pretzel sticks as fake cigars.

Not that life will ever totally get back to "normal" after the death of my dad - it is comforting to know that life does go on, and Joe and I are living life, having fun, and enjoying each day together. Today marks the one month date since my dad died. It is hard to believe.

God continues to bless the struggle and the suffering. His grace is sufficient.